Motivation is a psychological construct based on achievement orientation. As it helps us to perform our tasks with the best possible disposition, it is important to be motivated to face the challenges of our daily life in the best way.

In this article we’ll see how to find the motivation needed for our daily lives , and we’ll also go over some tips to make it stick.

What is motivation?

Motivation is a force that drives us towards the achievement of a goal. This attitude can come both from within us (intrinsic motivation) and from our environment (external motivation).

There are several types of motivation, but all of them have in common that they are based on mechanisms of psychological character that promote an action in the person .

So, in order to answer the question of how to find the motivation, let’s see what the existing types are.

1. Motivation for achievement

It is the motivation that is inspired to obtain a specific objective, represented by what is known as the achievement, the achievement of some activity.

2. Motivation for membership

It involves the search for acceptance in a certain social group . It is common during adolescence.

For example, wearing particular clothes, or listening to a type of music in order to be accepted, are behaviours that respond to this type of motivation.

3. Motivation for competition

It refers to the desire to achieve the objectives in the best possible way . It is not enough to achieve it, but to satisfy this motivation it must be done in the most optimal way.

Tips on finding motivation

In the next lines we will see some tools that can be useful when finding the motivation we need .

1. Acknowledge your wishes

The motivation comes mainly from our wishes.

If we are able to recognize what our desires really are, we will be aware of what motivates us and we will be able to direct that motivation towards achieving what we want.

To do this, a good idea is to do something very simple and that we often overlook as a possibility: to stop and think, literally, about what we want. Sit in a comfortable place and make a list of what really motivates us , noting down ideas as they come to mind and then ordering them.

2. Focus on achievable goals

While it is true that desires and goals generate motivation, we must focus this motivation on achievable goals . Objectively evaluate which projects we are going to embark on so that we feel fulfilled rather than frustrated.

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3. Values organization and order

The first step to start building the achievement of our goals is the organization. If we are able to organize our ideas and our environment, then we are gradually encouraging the motivation to continue working on our projects.

Remember that from order come achievements; if we are disordered people it is very probable that we will not manage to finish what we have set out to do , and as a consequence our motivation will be diminished.

4. Visualize your achievements

This exercise will greatly help you to find the necessary motivation to start with some activity that you have been putting off , apart from functioning as a support that keeps the motivation always on.

By visualizing yourself fulfilling your goals, you are giving yourself a good reason to continue doing what is necessary to achieve them, because the gratification of seeing you succeed is motivating.

5. Get motivated with prizes

This consists of seeking motivation through rewards given by you once the activity you need to perform is completed .

For example, after a strenuous workday, you can give yourself permission for a special meal, or to buy some clothes you like, etc.

These rewards work as a modulator of our reward system ; what will happen is that every time we have to perform some task more strenuous than usual we will do it thinking that then it is our turn to reward ourselves, so it will be much easier to start.

6. Think about your loved ones

An effective way to stay motivated is to think about the people who are proud of you and your achievements , regardless of who you think about; they can be family, close friends, the partner… In short, you must attract to your mind the people who want to see you succeed.

7. Breathing exercises

These exercises work to oxygenate our brain, and at the same time are effective in decreasing the levels of stress that we may feel during the performance of any activity.

The less tense we are, the more likely we are to get motivated and accomplish the activities.

8. Listen to inspiring music

This issue is subjective in nature, but highly efficient. It has been proven that music has a highly motivating effect on people; in fact, a large number of high-performance athletes listen to music before going out to compete in their respective disciplines .

The musical genre will depend on the particular taste of each subject, and the motivation can come from either a classical symphony or the sound of an electric guitar. It is for this reason that you must find which genre motivates you.

But the important thing is to listen to music before you start working on something, not necessarily during work; it could distract you. It’s also interesting to read, whether it’s in ebook format or with a book of a lifetime.

Bibliographic references:

  • Pink, D. H. (2010). The surprising truth about what motivates us. Barcelona: Centro Libros.
  • Uysal, M. (1994). Testing the push and pull factors. Annals of Tourism Research. 21 (4): 844 – 846.